Furthermore, regional lymph node status was found to be significantly associated with BAX mRNA expression status, as NPC patients with regional lymph node metastasis or unilateral metastasis in lymph nodes smaller than 6 cm in greatest dimension (N1) were more often BAX-positive, compared to patients with NPC classified as N2 or N3 (P = 0.024). This evidence concerns the gene BAX and nasopharyngeal carcinoma.